Clinical course and physiotherapy intervention in 9 patients with COVID-19.
Audrey Jia Yi Lee, Chloe Lau Ha Chung, Barnaby Edward Young and 5 others
PMID 32791333WHAT IT FOUND
In 9 patients with COVID-19 referred to physiotherapy, airway clearance was not needed, while five had exertional or positional oxygen desaturation.
Rehabilitation used interval sessions, rest breaks, stepwise mobilisation, oxygen and monitoring, with supine rest if needed.
Key findings
01Airway clearance techniques were not indicated because cough was dry and unproductive.
02Five of the nine referred patients had exertional or positional oxygen desaturation.
03Desaturation greatly slowed rehabilitation progression during the initial phases.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
This is a case series of nine patients from one hospital, so it cannot show that the physiotherapy approach worked. No comparison group, random allocation, or pre-specified outcome was used. Clinical course and rehabilitation milestones were presented in a figure, so the text alone does not detail the timing of milestones. The low referral rate may reflect local policies: all cases were admitted, many were mild, nurse-led early mobilisation was standard, and ward exercise videos were provided. The need for respiratory physiotherapy may differ by centre because patient profiles, comorbidities and local practice differ.
Declared interests
No funding was reported, and the authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that these physiotherapy strategies improve recovery, or that airway clearance is never needed. This was a case series of nine patients without a comparison group, and the authors state that respiratory physiotherapy should be evaluated and provided if indicated.